ADS1115 ADC Modules, Converter ICs and Data Acquisition Boards
ADS1115 analog-to-digital conversion: choose the actual board or chip
Find ADS1115-based 16-bit ADC breakout boards, loose ADS1115IDGS/IDGSR surface-mount ICs and selected data-acquisition products that incorporate an ADS1115. This collection also contains selectable ADS1015, ADS1118, ADS1110, ADS1120, ADS1220, MCP3421, SGM58031, PCF8591, AD5593, MCP4725 and PCA9306 options, as well as integrated controllers and measurement units. The parent title may name every choice; only the selected variant determines the actual device, resolution, interface, board and pack size. A loose ten-pin ADC chip is not a wired breakout, and a controller with ADS1115 inputs is not a standalone converter module.
Understanding ADS1115 itself
ADS1115 is a 16-bit delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter with an I²C digital interface, programmable gain amplifier and a multiplexed analog input arrangement. Common board descriptions specify a 2.0–5.5 V supply range and rates up to 860 samples per second for ADS1115; apply these figures only to an actual ADS1115 design and validate against the exact semiconductor and board specification. Four analog inputs can be selected as four single-ended measurements relative to ground or configured in supported differential pairings. They do not represent four independent ADC engines sampling simultaneously. A scan across channels takes conversions in sequence and incurs settling and timing considerations after switching the mux or gain.
“16-bit” is nominal output resolution, not a blanket statement of 16-bit absolute accuracy or usable noise-free bits. Measured performance depends on gain range, reference stability, common-mode and differential input conditions, source impedance, conversion rate, noise, temperature, layout and calibration. A board advertised as “high precision” cannot guarantee a particular system accuracy without a full error budget. The PGA selects a full-scale input range; it does not authorize a sensor input to exceed the device's permissible supply-referenced pin voltage. Even when a differential full-scale number exceeds the supply in the datasheet, the absolute voltage on either input must stay within its own allowed limits.
Board, bare chip and finished product
ADS1115 modules: Many products are small assembled I²C breakout boards, described in blue, purple, red or compact variants. Check the selected board's header arrangement, I²C address wiring, supply/logic connection, filtering and whether pins are included or soldered. A Raspberry Pi-specific ADC module may have a different host connector or power arrangement from a generic breadboard breakout. STEMMA QT/Qwiic-labeled versions may offer plug-in I²C connectors on the particular board, but that does not guarantee every similar-looking module includes a cable or the same connector, address circuit or power protection.
ADS1115IDGS/IDGSR IC packs: Numerous listings sell bare MSOP/VSSOP-10 devices in 2-, 5-, 10-, 20-, 50- or 100-piece options. A marking such as BOGI/B0GI appears in some seller text, but a top mark alone is not a sufficient substitute for a verified part number or documented sourcing. A bare chip requires a compatible PCB footprint, supply decoupling, I²C pull-ups, signal conditioning and firmware. Some catalog descriptions call these parts “chipsets” or replacement parts; the actual selected part is an ADC IC, not an assembled sensor or complete development board.
Integrated control products: Listings include an ESP32-S3 dimmer/controller with ADS1115 analog inputs, a 16-channel relay controller, an M5Stack ammeter/current-measurement unit and 3D imaging/layer-meter kits. These are complete or partial systems with their own host, connectors, power, sensor front end and accessories. ADS1115 can be one element of such a product. Do not assume purchasing an integrated controller supplies a separate ADC breakout, nor assume a bare ADS1115 measures mains current without a correctly designed sensor and safe isolation.
Other selected converter families
ADS1015: A separately selectable 12-bit I²C ADC in several ADS1115/ADS1015 products. Its resolution and conversion-rate choices differ from ADS1115. A product title saying “16 Bit” can still expose an ADS1015 blue or purple variant; follow that variant rather than attributing ADS1115 specifications to it.
ADS1118: Another ADC family listed both as module and bare IC option. It is not simply an ADS1115 with a different board color; verify its actual digital interface and features, including temperature-sensing capability where specified by the manufacturer, before choosing host firmware. A combined “ADS1115 ADS1118” parent title does not mean both chips are included.
ADS1110, ADS1120, ADS1220, MCP3421 and SGM58031: Mixed-model listings present distinct ADC alternatives with different channel counts, nominal resolutions, conversion behavior and interfaces. An ADS1220 24Bit option does not upgrade an ADS1115 option to 24 bits; an MCP3421 18Bit option is another selected part. Check the exact board or chip documentation for gain, reference, input topology and host communication.
PCF8591, AD5593 and MCP4725: PCF8591 listings describe an 8-bit ADC/DAC module, with a “Big PCB” choice; AD5593 has selectable analog I/O functionality; MCP4725 is a 12-bit I²C digital-to-analog converter. A DAC produces an analog output from a digital code and does not serve as an ADS1115 analog input converter. A “MCP4725 12bit Red” variant is the selected DAC board, not an ADS1115. Verify the exact IC and output/input role in a mixed title.
PCA9306: A selected I²C voltage-level translator, not an ADC. It can address a separate bus-voltage-domain problem in an appropriately designed circuit but does not sample analog signals. Another unrelated SN74CB3T3245PW bus-switch IC listing is present and likewise should not be mistaken for ADC hardware.
Analog input range and signal conditioning
Before attaching a sensor, define the maximum and minimum voltage at each ADC input under normal operation, startup and faults. Stay within the actual chip's absolute input limits and the board's operating supply. A selected PGA range defines conversion scaling and resolution trade-offs, not overvoltage tolerance. If the sensed signal exceeds the allowed input range, design a suitable divider, buffer, amplifier, filter or isolation stage for the specific system and verify its accuracy, impedance and safety requirements. Negative voltage, high common-mode voltage, mains, motor wiring and field signals must not be treated as directly measurable merely because an ADC listing says “high precision.”
Source impedance interacts with the converter's input structure and any board-level filter. Multiplexing between channels can introduce settling delays, particularly if the signal source is high impedance or the PGA setting changes. Noise from shared digital supply rails, I²C edges, long sensor cables or insufficient grounding can dominate a low-level measurement. For differential measurements, keep both individual input pins within allowed common-mode limits as well as respecting the differential range. For a current-measurement unit, check the actual sensing element, shunt or front-end rating; ADS1115 alone digitizes voltage and is not a standalone ammeter.
I²C integration and sampling expectations
ADS1115 board listings describe address choices that may allow several appropriately configured boards on one I²C bus. The exact ADDR connection, address selection, supply compatibility, pull-up network and bus voltage must be confirmed for each board. Connecting a 5 V-powered breakout to a 3.3 V host is not universally safe simply because the chip has a broad supply specification; board pull-ups may be tied to a rail that exceeds the host pin's tolerance. STEMMA QT/Qwiic names describe a physical connector ecosystem, not an unconditional promise of safe cross-voltage operation.
Use the selected device's conversion timing to plan polling or alert-driven reads. The headline maximum data rate applies to supported settings and does not turn four mux inputs into four simultaneous channels at that rate. Select single-shot or continuous conversion mode according to your power and latency requirements. The achievable useful update rate may be limited by averaging, mux settling, I²C traffic, sensor bandwidth or filtering. When comparing to an MCU's onboard ADC, consider total accuracy and integration effort rather than relying on bit count alone.
Reading a mixed variant list accurately
A large mixed listing has options such as “ADS1115 16Bit Blue / 1pc,” “ADS1115 16Bit Purple / 10pcs,” “ADS1115IDGSR IC / 5pcs,” “ADS1015 12Bit Blue / 10pcs,” “MCP4725 12bit Red / 1pc,” “PCA9306,” “PCF8591 8Bit Big PCB” and “ADS1220 24Bit.” These are different devices and delivery forms. Some products additionally offer a board labeled ADS1113/ADS1114-compatible, or a selectable ADS1113/ADS1114/ADS1115/ADS1118 IC, but compatibility wording does not imply equal channel count, interface or firmware registers across the family. A separate general-parts listing even offers LPC2148, power devices, SN75176 and ADS1115IDGSR under one title. Choose the ADS1115 variant specifically if that is what the design needs.
Pack size can be an independent option: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50 or 100 pieces appear in different listings. A “1–10pcs” title is an available range, not ten boards for every variant. A board-color option does not specify bare-chip package or cable inclusion. Read the individual packing statement when the variant name does not fully identify accessories, especially for integrated kits and STEMMA QT/Qwiic modules.
Engineering selection checklist
- Pick the precise deliverable: assembled ADS1115 breakout, ADS1115IDGSR bare chip, another ADC, DAC, level translator, current-measurement unit, or controller with ADC inputs.
- Confirm the selected part, resolution, host interface, input channel arrangement, data rate and gain range from the exact device documentation. Never combine specifications from ADS1115, ADS1015 and ADS1118 into one product.
- Establish sensor signal range, source impedance, common-mode and supply limits, desired effective resolution and error budget; design any conditioning before connecting analog inputs.
- Check board supply, I²C pull-up voltage and address wiring against the host; verify connector and cable inclusion separately.
- For multichannel sampling, account for mux sequencing and settling rather than expecting simultaneous four-channel acquisition.
- Choose pack quantity, chip versus module, package footprint and included assembly by selected variant. Treat provenance, calibration and certification claims as unverified unless the specific product supplies evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Can ADS1115 measure four channels simultaneously? No. Its input channels are multiplexed for sequential conversions; select a simultaneous-sampling architecture if aligned acquisition is essential.
Does 16-bit mean 16-bit accuracy? No. Resolution is the digital code width; accuracy and effective noise-free performance depend on the full analog design, gain setting and conditions.
Is ADS1015 a 16-bit ADS1115? No. The selected ADS1015 variant is a distinct 12-bit ADC, even where the shared listing title mentions 16-bit hardware.
Do ADS1115IDGSR IC packs contain breakout boards? No. The IC option describes bare surface-mount devices for PCB assembly. Choose a module variant when an assembled board is needed.
Can I connect a 5 V breakout directly to a 3.3 V I²C host? Not without checking the board's pull-up connections and the host's I/O ratings. The converter chip's supply range alone does not settle bus-voltage safety.
Is MCP4725 an alternative input ADC? No. The selected MCP4725 is a DAC option for analog output, whereas ADS1115 digitizes analog input.
Does an M5Stack ammeter unit equal a standalone ADS1115 board? No. It is a measurement unit whose overall sensing front end, power and connector specifications must be checked as a system.
Choose by selected variant and documented electrical limits. This guide distinguishes conversion ICs, modules and integrated equipment without claiming a universal measurement accuracy or software compatibility.
